Sept. 9, 2004 / Dallas -- The authenticity of newly unearthed memos stating that George W. Bush failed to meet standards of the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War was questioned Thursday by the son of the late officer who reportedly wrote the memos.
"I am upset because I think it is a mixture of truth and fiction here," said Gary Killian, son of Lt. Col. Jerry Killian, who died in 1984.
Gary Killian, who served in the Guard with his father and retired as a captain in 1991, said one of the memos, signed by his father, appeared legitimate. But he doubted his father would have written another, unsigned memo which said there was pressure to "sugar coat" Bush's performance review.
"It just wouldn't happen," he said. "The only thing that can happen when you keep secret files like that are bad things. ... No officer in his right mind would write a memo like that."
News reports have said the memos, first obtained by CBS's "60 Minutes II," were found in Jerry Killian's personal records. Gary Killian said his father wasn't in the habit of bringing his work home with him, and that the documents didn't come from the family.
CBS stood by its reporting. "As is standard practice at CBS News, the documents in the 60 Minutes report were thoroughly examined and their authenticity vouched for by independent experts," CBS News said in a statement. "As importantly, 60 Minutes also interviewed close associates of Colonel Jerry Killian. They confirm that the documents reflect his opinions and actions at the time."
The White House distributed the four memos from 1972 and 1973 after obtaining them from CBS News. The White House did not question their accuracy.
Authenticity of note to 'sugar coat' Bush record is further questioned...."Buck" Staudt was honorably discharged on March 1, 1972. CBS News reported....negative evaluations of Mr. Bush's service was dated Aug. 18, 1973.
A CBS staffer stood by the story, suggesting that Col. Staudt could have continued to exert influence.....But a former high-ranking Guard official disputed that, saying retirement would have left Col. Staudt powerless over remaining officials.......director of Air National Guard operations for the state headquarters during 1972 and 1973 said Col. Staudt "wasn't on the scene" after he left, and that CBS' remote-bullying thesis makes no sense......"He couldn't bully them. He wasn't in the Guard," Col. Lively said.
i'm actually surprised you posted this story......be that as it may, putting all political bias aside, and utilizing your lawyer skills regarding this story, don't you find it outrageous that a media outlet would stoop to towing the line for a political party to the extent of posing this rather obvious fraudulant story.....aren't you concerned about the "4th estate" bonding itself with a political party, losing its independence, and becoming a quasi-government press outlet?
i'm not gonna entirely fault rather and cbs for this episode........and even though rather probably wanted this to be true, he got duped............the real story is where these memos came from, and if rather has any credibility left in him, and for the sake of his career, he should expose the direct line to mcauliffe, and the kerry campaign, instead of standing by his "impeachable sources".......rather's stature could be reborn, if he simply exposes this incident, and admits to his audience that he got hoodwinked......i'm assuming that selfish pride will not let him do that though
Market Data 
Markets 
AI
